With its stunning, oversized blooms, the Amaryllis (or *Hippeastrum*) is a total showstopper, especially when the rest of the garden is fast asleep for the winter. But getting those magnificent winter flowers isn’t just luck—it’s all about a little TLC and the right routine. If you want to keep your Amaryllis happy before and after it shows off, here’s everything you need to know.
The Amaryllis brings a burst of color to the winter months
To get those gorgeous blooms, your Amaryllis needs a bit of a “spa treatment” to coax the flowers out. Here’s how to get started:
- Around early November, pot your Amaryllis bulb in a mix of cactus soil and standard potting soil. Make sure the bulb is only buried halfway!
- Pick a pot that gives the bulb some breathing room—you’ll want about an inch of space between the bulb and the rim of the pot.
- Give it just a tiny bit of water to start.
- Find a cozy spot with partial shade for your plant.
- Keep the room temperature between 68°F and 72°F (20-22°C).
If you follow these steps, you should see the first buds popping up from the bulb within about eight weeks.
Care tips during the blooming phase
Once your Amaryllis is in full bloom, it’s actually pretty low-maintenance. Just keep these few tips in mind:
- Move your plant to a sunny, warm windowsill.
- Water it regularly to keep the soil moist.
- Snip off any wilted flowers so the plant doesn’t waste energy trying to produce seeds.
You’ll notice the green leaves usually don’t show up until the second half of the blooming period. Once they appear, it’s time to start feeding! Use a liquid fertilizer suitable for flowering bulbs about every two weeks.
Post-bloom care: Getting ready for next year
When the flowers finally fade, your Amaryllis is actually entering its growth phase. To make sure it comes back even stronger next year, don’t stop the care program now:
- Wait until the stems and leaves have completely withered and turned yellow before cutting them back.
- Starting in July, begin to cut back on watering gradually.
- In August, it’s time for the plant’s annual nap. Move your Amaryllis to a cool, dark spot—like a basement—where the temperature stays around 60°F (16°C).
Then, come November, you can start the whole cycle over again!
